Joyner, Winston Capture Honors

Tallahassee, FL - Senior cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award and redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston captured ACC Rookie of the Week accolades for the fifth time this season on Monday.

Joyner, who is tied for first in the ACC with three forced fumbles, is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2013 Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native has been a lockdown cornerback this season and also has 37 tackles, three pass break-ups, one interception and a team-leading three sacks.

The three Thorpe Award finalists will be named on Monday, November 25th and the winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12th airing on ESPN. The winner of the 2013 Thorpe Award will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on February 4, 2014.

Winston nabbed ACC Rookie of the Week honors again after tossing for 292 yards and three touchdowns in FSU’s 49-17 win over NC State on Saturday.

Winston led the Seminoles to a 35-0 lead at the end of the first quarter by completing 11-of-14 passes for 229 yards and three scores before the second quarter even started.

He ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency (207.0) and sits tied-for-third in passing touchdowns (23), while leading the conference in both categories.

ACC Announces Six-Day Option for FSU at Wake Forest on Nov. 9The ACC released that the time of the Florida State at Wake Forest game on Nov. 9 will be announced no later than noon on Sunday, Nov. 3 and that it will air on either ABC or ESPN.

Jimbo Fisher Press Conference Transcript – Oct. 28, 2013

Opening Statement:“(I’m) very proud of our team (with) the way we responded this week against North Carolina State. That was a big win, a big moment for us. (It was) critical how we prepared for the game and how we went about our business during the week and we came out and started fast in the game and got control in the game. Again, I’m very proud of our guys on how they handled that whole situation and not looking forward to this game (versus Miami), or not worrying about the previous game at Clemson. Hopefully, that’s a sign of maturity for our program that we’ll continue to grow and handle these situations much better. I thought our defense was outstanding from the get-go. I thought special team also, except for when we kicked the ball out of bounds, we covered kicks very well. We gained field position. Defense was very dominant up front at the line of scrimmage and we were able to create turnovers with tackling and interceptions in the back end. We were able to capitalize on those on offense, keeping the momentum of the game – (we) were able to sustain a lot of drives offensively, (we were) able to hit big plays and (we) were able to run and throw the ball both ways. (We’ve) got to keep balanced and both those facets. (I’m) very proud of the way we executed that way. Kenny Shaw did a great job. I thought in the punt return game (he) set up some nice – just breaking big, not 50-yard returns but 10, 15, 20-yard returns that really set up nice field position that allowed us to be aggressive in play calling. (He did) a great job of fielding the ball. Our kickers continue to kick the ball very well. There was a chance for us to play a lot of our younger players – very proud to watch those guys on tape. As you look at things on tape, things are never as bad as they seem or never as good as they seem, I saw some really close things from those guys developing and making plays. You saw a lot of growth that will help them down the road and help our football team because those guys will be counted on in the long run. Again, the development of the young players during a season of this length, the way college football is, is very critical for your success down the road. We have to substitute for guys, deal with injuries and getting them actual playing time against quality reps, going against their (NC State) number one’s was critical for us – offensively and defensively. (I’m) very proud of those guys (with) the way they competed. There’s some things they’ll learn from in that game and there are some things that we really grew from in that game. Saying all that, that game is in the past now, we have a great game and great opportunity in front of us in Miami. This is one of the great traditions in college football. One of the reasons why you come to Florida State, to be able to play in this game and then of course, both teams being in the top 10, like the old days. (It) feels good and this should be a great match up. They have a great team, they’re very well-coached. Al (Golden) has done a tremendous job, he and his staff and his players and we have tremendous respect for their program, tremendous respect for their players and know they’ll be ready for us on Saturday. We’ll have to compete and have a great week of practice. That’s going to be the key – getting great preparation throughout the week and executing.”

On defending Miami:“You’ve got to be physical. You’ve got to be able to shed blockers and use your hands. They’re very good on the offensive line. Duke (Johnson) is a great runner and they’re very multiple on how they do some things. They do a great job. We’re going to have to be physical. We’re going to have to give different looks and different combinations of things so they don’t know what we’re trying to block all the time but they’re a very experienced line and a very well-coached group up front so, it’s going to be a hard one to handle. We’ll have to man up, there’s no doubt.”

On coaching against former FSU offensive coordinator James Coley:“I’ve watched their offenses, I’ve never studied like I would the other side of the ball, but just going through, they’ve done a great job. They can run it, they can throw it, they’ve got good balance. They’re creating a lot of plays and (they’re) doing a great job of coming back late in games and being able to make drives to win games late. We knew they have a great group going in as far as player wise. He’s added to what they’ve done and they’re very well-coached all the way around the board – offensive line, receivers, running backs and Coley has done a great job. I always said that Coley is a great offensive mind. I think he’s a very good coach and a great recruiter and he’s got a great future in this business.”

On Miami running back Duke Johnson:“What doesn’t he do well? We’d have a shorter conversation. The thing about him is that he makes big plays. He’s dynamic. He gets in space. He changes numbers on the scoreboard. He makes you miss. The thing about him is he’s very durable. He’s strong. He’s got great balance and body control. (He) catches the ball out of the backfield and he blocks. That guy is a competitor and a complete football player. He really is. He is one heck of a football player.”

On the play of the defensive line:“They’ve been very good. You have to win on both lines of scrimmage if you’re going to be a great team or championship caliber team. The offensive and defensive lines have to be really good and I think our guys are learning to do that. We’re able to keep multiple guys in multiple looks and Timmy (Jernigan) and Eddie (Goldman), those guys are doing a great job. Christian (Jones) and Mario (Edwards Jr.), of course Jaccobi (McDaniel) is doing a great job in there, Nile (Lawrence-Stample). You go down the line and Demonte McAllister, Dan Hicks that whole group of guys, Chris Casher all are great players. I like how they’re multiple in what they can do up there.”

On junior nose guard Timmy Jernigan and other guys that don’t generate many statistics:“Defensive tackles and nose guards are the most unselfish people in the world. You talk about offensive linemen which are also, but defensive tackles and nose guards are too –they’re taking on double-teams, freeing up backers to make plays, not letting guys get second level. Those guys are very unselfish football players if you’re playing great football. They have to be very disciplined because you want to go make a play, but as soon as you do that you run out of your gap there goes a gash up inside. Those guys are doing a great job of keeping leverage on the ball and being disciplined in what they do. The guys that understand football when you watch him play you really respect what he’s doing.”

On senior defensive end Christian Jones really coming on:“I have no doubt. (He’s) great on the end of the ball, can rush, playing the run very well, athletic. He’s a problem for the guys on their (Miami) side of the ball. He’s a good player.”

On what worries him the most about Miami:“What doesn’t worry you? Again, I’ll say this, they’re a complete dynamic. They can run on offense (or) they can throw it. They create big plays. They can pound you if they wanted. Defensively, they’re very multiple, they’re three-down fronts, they’ll kick a side down to a four-down front, very multiple blitzes. In their kicking game, they have explosive players to cover with and to run the ball with and they kick it well. They’re a complete team. I don’t know if there is any one thing that scares me the most, what scares me the most is that they’re a good football team and you’re going to have to practice well and execute. It’s not (being) scared, I guess if you’re prepared and you’re aware and you respect what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.”

On winning big and dropping in the polls:“(We) don’t worry about it. Control what you can control and keep playing and don’t worry about it. Polls don’t concern us. We’ll worry about that when the year is over. We’ve got to control what we can control and that’s playing well, setting goals each week, setting a standard to which we want to play to and try to that standard and above and try to grow. Those things take care of themselves in time and you’ve just got to keep playing.”

On forcing turnovers:“They’ve just been very opportunistic. Turnovers at times, you can try to create them and they don’t come. Our guys have been very opportunistic, will get great pressure on the quarterback, will affect the quarterback (and) make him get rid of the ball a little earlier for you at times and we’re being multiple at times in the secondary. Our guys are more experienced. You’ve got some more experienced guys and you’ve got some young guys who are extremely talented, who are really understanding the defense and their talents are starting to come out too. I think it’s a multiple of things.”

On junior running back Devonta Freeman’s role because of injuries:“Devonta is one of those guys, I say this, every time you get on him on the football field which is very rare, I feel bad. His heart is about as genuine as the day is long. There is not a bad bone in his body. He is a team guy. He’ll do whatever you ask him. ‘You want me to block, coach? You want me to catch the ball? You want me to go stand out there at wide out?’ He’ll do whatever he does and he’s just a tremendous football player and more importantly he’s tremendous teammate and competitor. He understands the importance of being a great teammate that way and he affects the guys on his team. I could go on and on about him but whatever you want him to do and however you want him to do it he says, ‘yes sir’ and goes 100 miles per hour.”

On this being a personal game for a lot of players and if it could have an effect on players:“I think it depends on each individual’s maturity. Those go on an individual basis. How individuals handle situations in that regard. Sometimes you can get too high or put too much pressure on yourself but hopefully, the maturity of some of the guys that we have when they’re in that situation they won’t do that.”

On redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston handling his rise to fame:“What he’s doing because how he’s gotten there is the thing that he’s got to remember. He is doing a great job of that. He understands. Who was I before everyone knew me? I’m the same guy and I think he knows that and our team respects that from him. He’s one of the guys that doesn’t put himself above him at the same time they have tremendous respect for him for how he does handle that. How he differs things to them and he seems like the same guy to me. He continues to grow and work and play hard every week and he’s fun to coach. Like I say, he’s his own worst critic at times. Sometimes I’ve got to be easy on him because he demands so much from himself at times. He’s handled it tremendously in my opinion.”

On talking with redshirt freshman kicker Roberto Aguayo about this historic rivalry:“I don’t. It’s just another game. If your kicker comes in and it’s time to make it, stay true to the process, go out there and kick the ball. Put your foot in the ground and do your fundamentals, hit it square where you’re supposed to hit it and let it go and don’t think about the result. Stay true to the process and stay true to your fundamentals. It’s no different than the kick you had in practice, it’s no different than the kick you had at home at Southlake and it’s the same one we’ll do every day and do it the same way.”

On where his confidence comes from:“I think it’s his ability to prepare. He’s a hard worker. Just like I said with some of these young guys, he’s a tremendously hard worker and focused guy and believes in the process and stays true to it and does a great job that way. You continually do something over and over, you gain confidence in what you’re doing and that’s what he’s done.”

On redshirt freshman Jameis Winston’s play on Saturday:“I thought he played well. He played a good football game. Did he play his best game? Probably not, he could have done some little things. But, when you’re playing quarterback, there’s so many decisions you make. I say this all the time. You can over-coach a guy sometimes too. You’ve got to let a guy react and see. If he’s thinking it’s bad and you’re got to be careful on how you do that, but there’s a few things we’ll continue to work out but I’ve been very pleased. I thought he played a very good game.”

On if this game is big for recruiting:“I think it always helps, but I don’t know if it matters as much as it used to because recruiting has changed so much. But at the same time, it doesn’t hurt you to be able to win that game. There’s a lot of other reasons other than recruiting to win that game. That’s your rival, it’s a conference game, it’s a national implication game and all those things, I don’t think it hurts it for sure.”

On his moment with Coach Bowden:“We had a little moment before the game and spoke. I had a few minutes with him before the game.”

On the gratification of it being like the old days with Miami vs. FSU matchup:“I think it is. For their sake it is and for our sake it is. We both want to be there. That’s the goals of both programs. I can’t speak for them but it is for us. We’re prominent again and we’re consistent on being up there again and we’ve been up there for a good while now and you’re starting to see us there every week and hopefully we can stay there. That goes back to me talking about not (just) the team you have but the program you have and they’re a difference. Teams come and go but programs sustain he test of time and they’re able to handle the duration of things and that’s what we want to be a great program.”

On the personality of this year’s team:“This may sound crazy, but the word is love. These guys truly love each other and play for each other. There’s no doubt. They are a very tight-knit group of guys. It’s fun to be around them and it’s fun to watch them interact – you see it. In the good moments and the bad moments, you see it. This is a very tight-knit group of guys.”

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